Winter visitors to Loktak on the rise
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Sobhapati Samom
Keibul Lamjao, December 09 2013:
The number of water birds visiting Loktak lake, a Ramsar site, has been comparatively increased in the last three years, according to Thanga villagers and ornithologists of the state.
"We've seen flocks of Gadwall (Anas strepera) in today's study tour around Ngatem pat", said Managing Trustee RK Birjit Singh of Center for Conservation of Nature and Cultivation of Science (CCNCS), MU.
"Besides many other water birds including a large number of Lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna Javanica) have also been sighted at Ibohal farm" .
Gadwall or Thoidingnum in Manipuri is the second largest water fowl after Lesser whistling duck popularly known as Tingee in local tongue, found at Ngatem pat which lies within the Keibul Lamjao National Park territory while Tingee at Ibohal farm, which is also under Keibul area.
This water bird which breeds in northern Europe and Asia besides North America visits Manipur in groups during the cold season when their habitat becomes frozen.
The Gadwall and Lesser whistling duck's visit to Loktak lake was discovered by a team of scientists, ornithologists, researchers and conservationists from Bombay Natural Society (BNHS), CCNCS, MU and officials from the Department of Forest, Wild Life Wing, Government of Manipur on the first day of their 10-day study on the important bird areas (IBA's) of Manipur on Monday.
The sudden rise of migratory water birds in Loktak and its associated wetlands is because of less human pressure and sudden increase of open water of the lake following the recent removal of bio-mass (phumdis), the team members felt.
Around 57 species including 27 migratory and 30 resident birds and two nearly threatened species Ferrigunous Pocchard (Aytha nyroca) and Darter (Ahimsa melonogaster) visited the lake last year, according to a report.
Dr Raju Kasambe, Head of BNHS's important bird areas programme, is leading the study tour in and around the Keibul Lamjao National Park, around 50 km south of Imphal in Bishnupur district and recorded the wild bird's sounds besides capturing the pictures of various water birds visiting the park area this season.
The team will also study the biodiversity particularly, tracking the trail of the birds.
The areas to be visited during the study include Ango or Anko Hills in Ukhrul District, Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamenglong District, Dzuku Valley in Senapati District, Jiri-Makru WLS in Imphal East & Tamenglong District, Kailam Wildlife Sanctuary in Churachandpur District, Loktak Lake & Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishnupur & Imphal West Districts, Shiroy Community Forest in Ukhrul District, Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Santuary in Chandel District and Zeilad Lake Sanctuary Tamenglong District.
The team will also look for new possible IBA's areas from Manipur to be included as per Birdlife International's IBA consortium.
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